is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually ?" (Nahum i. 8-10; iii. 1, 19.)

Nahum's voice is silent; and the city goes on still in sin. Another century passes by, and as yet no stroke has fallen; and lo! another and a last voice rises up above the surging cry of wickedness, and rings like a trump of coming judgment over the city. It is Zephaniah's, repeating Nahum's fearful prophecies, and adding other and still more terrible predictions, of Nineveh's total and speedy overthrow :"And He will stretch out His hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for He shall uncover the cedar work. This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand." (Zeph. ii. 13-15.)

Such were the announcements of the prophets, and history comes forth to tell us that to the letter they were all fulfilled. Nineveh fell suddenly and for ever; the mode and circumstances of its capture, as narrated by the heathen historians, answer with

the most marvellous exactness to the prophetic details.*

The very foundations of the million-peopled city disappeared from the earth, and for long centuries its very site was only matter of conjecture. It is only in our own day that the discoveries of Botta and Layard have disinterred it from its long-forgotten grave, and brought the story of its greatness and its ruin to the light of day.

What solemn testimony in all this to the truth of Holy Scripture! What testimony more solemn still that God is alike true to His promises and His threatenings. If Nineveh fell, can guilty nations with greater privileges hope to escape? If she fell notwithstanding her remarkable but temporary reformation, can any of us imagine that a mere external amendment will avail us in the sight of a pure and holy God? Surely nothing short of a real, thorough abiding change of heart, effected by the power of the Holy Spirit, and bringing us into living contact with that great Prophet who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, can stand the test of Omniscient scrutiny. It was the sense of this that made David pray in his penitential Psalm-" Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me;" and led him to exclaim, in the consciousness of guilt, and in reliance upon the blood of atonement-" Purge me and I shall

* See Bishop Newton and Dr. Keith on the Prophecies concerning Nineveh; they are well worth a patient and accurate study.

be clean, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psalm li. 7, 10.)

Let, then, the forty days of Nineveh impress upon us the lessons of repentance and of mercy; and let us bear in mind, that as repentance means a change of heart, it involves the constant exercise of that new life which such change implies, and the continual production of those fruits which spring from it. Well and wisely has the Catechism exhorted believers, as they draw near to the Lord's Supper, to examine themselves" whether they repent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new life, have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of His death, and be in charity with all men."

We beseech Thee to grant us true repentance and Thy Holy Spirit, that those things may please thee which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter

may be pure and holy; so that at the last

we may come to Thy eternal joy,

through Jesus Christ

our Lord.

Amen.

VI

The Forty Days of our Lord's Temptation :

CONFLICT AND VICTORY.

"Being forty days tempted of the devil."-LUKE iv. 2.

1742.

I want a godly fear,

A quick discerning eye,

That looks to Thee when sin is near,

And sees the Tempter fly :

A spirit still prepared,

And armed with jealous care,

For ever standing on its guard,
And watching unto prayer.

I rest upon Thy word:
The promise is for me;

My succour and salvation, Lord,

Shall surely come from Thee.

But let me still abide,

Nor from my hope remove,

Till Thou my patient spirit guide

Into Thy perfect love!

C. WESLEY.